X-ray beam processor

ABSTRACT

An x-ray beam processor system that includes an x-ray beam generator for generating x-ray beams; a collecting cone that includes multilayer waveguide optics; a condensing cone that includes multilayer waveguide optics; and polycapillary tubes with channels, where the polycapillary tubes link the collecting cone and the condensing cone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/609,863,filed on Oct. 30, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/109,561, filed on Oct. 30, 2008. The entire contentsof these applications is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

There has been no joint research agreements entered into with any thirdparties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The federal government is not sponsoring any research or developmentrelated to the subject matter of this patent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Cancer treatment systems that use an MRI device and a beam generator areknown in the art. A number of existing treatment systems damage healthytissue surrounding the cancerous tissue being treated. The beamprocessor and related systems described herein improve existing cancertreatment systems by, among other things, minimizing damage to thehealthy tissue in the area surrounding the cancerous tissue beingtreated and provides greater assurance that the target tissue is killed.Such a system is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/242,577 (“the '577 patent application”), filed on Sep. 30, 2008, anddirected to a “Photonic Based Non-Invasive Surgery System That IncludesAutomated Cell Control and Eradication Via Pre-Calculated Feed-ForwardControl Plus Image Feedback Control For Targeted Energy Delivery”; thecontents of the '577 patent application are incorporated herein byreference and include a common inventor in Mr. Oosting.

A beam generator used in such a non-invasive system can include anysource of x-ray beams such as linear accelerators and x-ray tubes. Aproblem with using x-ray beams is that they are not easily focused, andx-ray sources produce diverging x-ray beams that spread with the squareof the distance from the source beam generator. Therefore, there is aneed for beam processors that focus highly coherent and collimated x-raybeams on cancerous target cells with sufficient flux to destroy thecancerous cells.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an x-ray beamprocessor system that includes an x-ray beam generator for generatingx-ray beams; multilayered planar waveguide optics wrapped into adiverging cone on a substrate, wherein the diverging cone is an innercollecting cone and x-ray beams are collected on an outer surface of thediverging cone; an outer collecting cone, wherein the outer collectingcone collects x-ray beams on an inner surface of the outer collectingcone; a planar waveguide formed by the joining of the outer collectingcone and the inner collecting cone, where the planar waveguide forms aconverging cone that includes straight angles and x-rays increase incoherence and adherence within the converging cone; and a mirror ringfor aiming x-rays exiting the planar waveguide. Support in thespecification for this embodiment can be found at least in paragraphs46-49, FIG. 7, of published specification 2010/0111246, for parentapplication Ser. No. 12/609,863.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed an x-ray beamprocessor system that includes an x-ray beam generator for generatingx-ray beams; an outer collecting cone adjacent to the x-ray beamgenerator that collects x-ray beams on its inner surface through aninlet; a multilayer waveguide wrapped into a diverging cone withslightly convex sides; a condensing cone made of a multilayer waveguidewrapped into a converging cone with straight sides, where the divergingcone is connected to the condensing cone at a meeting point; and a leadshield is disposed at the meeting point in between the diverging coneand condensing cone to prevent unchanneled x-ray beams from entering thecondensing cone. Support in the specification for this embodiment can befound at least in paragraph 50, FIG. 8, of published specification2010/0111246, for parent application Ser. No. 12/609,863.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed an x-raybeam processor system that includes an x-ray beam generator forgenerating x-ray beams; a collecting cone made of a multilayer planarwaveguide wrapped into a diverging cone with slightly concave sides; acondensing cone made of a multilayer planar waveguide wrapped into aconverging cone, where the collecting cone is connected to thecondensing cone and x-rays are collected on the outside of thecollecting cone; an exit located at an end of the condensing cone; and aring of actuated mirrors disposed at the exit of the condensing cone.Support in the specification for this embodiment can be found at leastin paragraph 53, FIGS. 9 and 10, of published specification2010/0111246, for parent application Ser. No. 12/609,863.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is directed to anx-ray beam processor system that includes an x-ray beam generator forgenerating x-ray beams; a collecting cone comprising multilayerwaveguide optics; a condensing cone comprising multilayer waveguideoptics; and a plurality of polycapillary tubes with channels, where thepolycapillary tubes link the collecting cone and the condensing cone.Support in the specification for this embodiment can be found at leastin paragraphs 46-55, in particular, FIG. 10, of published specification2010/0111246, for parent application Ser. No. 12/609,863.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1A is a side view of a first embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in a beam processor.

FIG. 1B is a view from the target looking into the waveguide showing theinner cone, outer cone and center beam.

FIG. 2 is a view of an optic system used in an embodiment of the presentinvention showing mirror geometry and angles related to the actuation ofthe mirrors.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention showingthe various components of the optic system used in such an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includespolycapillary tubes.

FIG. 5A is a side view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention showing the components in an alternative optic system thatincludes multilayer waveguide channels.

FIG. 5B is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showingthe directional change that occurs when x ray beams come in contact witha multilayer waveguide channel.

FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention showingthe components in an alternative optic system that includes a beamprocessor with converging waveguides.

FIG. 7 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesdouble cone optics.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesinner cone optics.

FIG. 9 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesouter cone optics.

FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesouter cone optics with polycapillary tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a side view of a first embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in a beam processor. The components of the beamprocessor according to the first embodiment include a beam generator 1,mirror shield and tunnel 2, mountings 3, mirrors 4 including entrymirrors 4 a and exit mirrors 4 b, waveguide 5, inner cone 6, outer cone7, center beam 8 and target 9.

The beam generator 1 can include any source of x-ray photons butpreferably the beam generator 1 includes linear accelerators, x-raytubes or radioactive isotopes.

The mirror shield and tunnel 2 is preferably a precision machined lead(or other dense material) shield that prevents unwanted photons fromreaching the mirrors 4.

The mountings 3 are preferably fixed structural components used to holdother components in fixed or near fixed position relative to oneanother. In the case of mountings for the actuated mirrors 4, the baseof the mirror 4 is fixed to the mounting 3 while the mirror 4 isactuated (moved) relative to the base.

The mirror system includes multiple mirrors 4 with groupings of mirrors4 (as shown on FIG. 2) for each port in the waveguide 5 except thecenter port. A set of one or more mirrors 4 will preferably be used ateach end of each waveguide 5 except the center port. For example, for abeam processor with 513 ports, 1,024 sets of mirrors would preferably beused in the mirror system. The mirrors 4 will be described further belowin relation to FIG. 2.

The waveguide 5 is preferably made of lead or other dense material suchthat the only photons reaching the opposite side from the beamgenerators 1 will be those photons passing through the waveguide ports.Thus, anything on the far side of the waveguide 5 is shielded fromphotons not directed into the ports. The waveguide 5 will have multipleports or holes that permit directed photons to pass through such thateach port functions as a wave guide. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the individual ports are plated with gold such that the wallsfunction as x-ray mirrors. The waveguides serve to provide collimationand a high level of coherence.

The waveguides are organized in three sets. There is an outer ring, aninner ring and a single center port. The photons form inner 6 and outer7 cones as they travel from the exit ports of the waveguide 5 to theintersection point 9. Photons traveling from the beam generator 1through the center port and on to the intersection point form the centerbeam 8. The target 9 is formed when the exit mirrors 4 b direct theindividual beams from each waveguide 5 exit port to come to anintersection at the desired target 9.

FIG. 2 shows a mirror's geometry and actuation as used in the mirrorsystem 4 shown in FIG. 1A. More specifically, each mirror 4 is mountedon a fixed pivot point on one end and an actuator, preferably apiezoelectric actuator, at the other end so the deflection angle can beadjusted in very small increments. Any adjustment in a mirror 4 willaffect deflections in subsequent mirrors and will likely requireactuation (movement) of the subsequent mirrors. In the mirror's geometryand actuation for a given wavelength, the mirror's critical angle mustnot exceed 0.58 degrees therefore the entry angle as shown in FIG. 2will preferably be approximately 0.50 degrees. In addition, the exitangle is approximately equal to the entry angle. Therefore, the totaldeflection at each mirror is approximately 1 degree and the major angleis approximately 179 degrees.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in a case where there are 5 mirrors ineach segment of the rings there would be 5 degrees (or less than 10times the critical angle for a given wavelength) of deflection, from 90degrees to 85 degrees. If this is the case on both mirror rings and thewave guide is 36 inches long and the outer ring of ports is 4 inches indiameter, the total length from the beam generator 1 to the target 9 isapproximately 7 feet.

If, however, a single mirror is used in each segment of the exit ring,the overall length increases to 22.86+36+114.58=173.44 inches or 14.45feet (if a person of ordinary skill in the art draws a right trianglefrom the center of the outer cone 7 to the intersection point 9, the endof the triangle will be 2 inches and the angle at the intersection willbe 5 degrees. Therefore, the length of the intersection point 9 from thewaveguide 5 is 2/tan(5)=22.86. If you have only 1 mirror than thelength=2/tan(1)=114.58 because the angle is only 1 degree.). Thisgeometry would be required to feed the intersection point into asubsequent waveguide 5 with mirrored interior walls. The final outputwould approximate an x-ray laser. While photon density per unit volumewould be hundreds of times greater at the output than the input, thebrilliance would not likely be sufficient to qualify as an actual laser.

If these assemblies were then combined in a cascading arrangement ofwaveguides 5 and exit mirrors 4 b, starting with multiple beamgenerators, the end result would be a brighter and brighter output asthe number of inputs is increased.

While the beam processor provides a much higher concentration of photonsat the intersection point 9 than would be available in the same sizevolume element of an unmodified cone beam or intensity-modulatedradiation therapy (“IMRT”) beams, the overwhelming majority of theenergy emitted from the beam generator 1 to the beam processors will bediscarded. This is because only the energy captured by mirrors 4 andchanneled into the waveguides 5 is used. This selective use of photonstreams dramatically reduces the total energy introduced into thepatient and therefore reduces the likelihood of undesirable side effectswhile assuring ample treatment of the target cells.

The percentage of the input beam that is put to use can be variedbetween 0% and 0.0001% (approximately and depending on the number ofbeam mirrors/channels/photon streams).

The actuators on each mirror 4 can be used to modulate each photonstream on and off. By modulating a portion of the mirrors 4 to directtheir photon stream such that it does not enter the correspondingwaveguide 5 the beam intensity can be modulated up and down veryrapidly. This modulation can be used to create the lower power beams foraiming as well as the energy burst for target cell destruction.

All unused portions of the input beam are preferably shielded to preventunnecessary exposure to the patient.

Two dimensional sensor arrays placed on the opposite side of the patientfrom the beam generator 1 may be used to gather position feedback data.This approach provides adequate feedback to assure the exit mirrors 4 bare creating the desired intersection point 9 inside the patient giventhe sensor array has adequate resolution.

Energy loss at each mirror should be on the order of 1 percent if thecritical angle of 0.58 degrees is not exceeded. If a total of 6 mirrorsare used along each path the total energy loss from the deflectionsshould be approximately 6 percent. In addition, there may be an energyloss associated with the waveguides 5.

If there is no loss associated with entry into the waveguides 5, a beamprocessor with 101 ports would result in a peak photon density (numberof photons per unit volume) within the intersection point 9 that isapproximately 95 times greater than what is currently available from thesame x-ray source without the beam processor at the distance from thesource where the photons enter the beam processor. In actual practice,the patient would most likely be farther from the source. This wouldresult in an even greater multiplier than 95.

Even if there is an energy loss of 20% associated with entry into thewaveguides the beam processor according to the embodiment of the presentinvention would yield a peak concentration in the intersection point 9that would be approximately 75 times greater than without the beamprocessor.

Sensor material is used around the entry to each port in the waveguide 5to provide feedback information to aim the photons into the port.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includespolycapillary tubes 10 with channels. In this embodiment, hundreds ofpolycapillary tubes 10 can be placed on chips 13 (not shown) on thecircuit board 11. The number of polycapillary tubes 10 can be doubled byplacing them on the inside and outside of the circuit board 11. Eachpolycapillary tube 10 can be actuated separately to change the directionof the beam. There are preferably 38 channels in each tube, with eachchannel in the tube being preferably 1 micron in diameter and each tubepreferably having a 7 micron diameter.

In the beam processor shown in FIG. 4, actuated polycapillary tubes onchips 10 are used to direct elements of a diverging x-ray beam intopreferably 513 gold-plated, seven micron, waveguide channels 12 whichare approximately three feet in length in a lead cylinder. At the exitthe beams are aimed at the target 9 with a ring of actuatedpolycapillary tubes on chips 10. The polycapillary tubes on chips 10 canbe used to turn off certain waveguides 5 for alignment checks for eachmirror individually and to reduce flux as needed.

X-ray beams from the beam generator 1 are preferably captured by a ringof over 500 polycapillary optic chips 13 and directed into waveguide 5ports. The polycapillary optic chips 13 preferably contain 38 channelsforming one 7 micron tube. Each optic chip is preferably actuated toturn each waveguide 5 “on” or “off” to control flux. The waveguide 5 ispreferably cylindrical. Each waveguide 5 would preferably include a 7micron, gold-plated tube in a cylindrical shaped lead shieldapproximately one meter in length. The beams would then exit thewaveguide 5 and be directed to the target 9 by a ring of single ormultiple actuated mirrors 4.

FIG. 5A is a side view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention showing the components in an alternative optic system thatincludes multilayer waveguide channels 12. FIG. 5B is a side view of anembodiment of the present invention showing the directional change thatoccurs when x ray beams come in contact with a multilayer waveguidechannel 12. This embodiment is similar to the one described in FIG. 4except that waveguide channels mounted on actuated chips are used todirect the x-ray beams into the waveguide channels.

FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includes aring of polycapillary optic chips as described in FIG. 4 which guide thex-ray beams into a converging multilayer waveguide. The multi-layers arepreferably alternating thin layers of dense and light materials. Thex-rays are then aimed at the target 9 by a ring of actuated single ormultiple mirrors 4 b at the exit of the waveguide 5.

In the beam processor shown in FIG. 7, multi-layered planar waveguideoptics are wrapped into a diverging cone on a preferably smoothstainless steel substrate. The multi-layers are preferably alternatingthin layers of dense and light materials. In this embodiment, the x-raybeams are preferably coupled to the waveguide 5 by resonant beamcoupling. The diverging cone will be the inner collecting cone. It willpreferably be slightly concave with respect to incoming beams. X-raybeams are collected on the outer surface of the diverging cone.

In addition, an outer collecting cone which is preferably slightlyconvex with respect to the incoming beams will collect beams with awider angle of divergence from the beam source. The outer cone 7 willalso preferably be a multi-layered planar waveguide 5 which will bewrapped into a slightly diverging cone. This cone will collect x-raybeams on its inner surface.

As shown on FIG. 7, the outer and inner cones meet at the widest part ofthe cones forming one planar waveguide 5. As a person of ordinary skillin the art would readily understand, flux increases as the cones widen,collecting more and more x-ray beams of diverging angles. As shown inFIG. 6, the planar waveguide 5 then forms a converging cone, which isalso referred to as a condensing cone, that includes straight angles. Inthe condensing cone, the x-rays increase in coherence and adherence. Asthe x-rays exit the waveguide 5 they are aimed at the target 9 by a ringof single or multiple actuated mirrors 4.

FIG. 7 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesdouble cone optics. As shown in FIG. 7, the collecting and condensingcones are continuous and are made as one unit by coating a preferablystainless steel substrate with alternating layers of dense and lightmaterials. Alternatively, the collecting and condensing cones could bemade separately and be linked in the middle by a ring of polycapillaryoptics. These polycapillary optics may be mounted on actuated chips 13such that photons are directed into the condensing cone or kept out ofthe condensing cone to control flux. On the other hand, the collectingand condensing cones could be made separately and be linked in themiddle by ring shaped multi-layered waveguides on actuated chips 13 tocontrol flux. In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferred thatcooling tubes be used in the core to cool the surface. In both of theabove alternatives a lead shield is preferably placed after the actuatedchips 13 on the outside of the cone to absorb x-rays when the opticchips 13 are turned to the “off” position. Each chip is preferablycontrolled separately for alignment and control.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesinner cone optics. Based on a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8, the innercone optics shown in FIG. 8 are similar to FIG. 7 related tomulti-layered planar waveguide optics except that FIG. 8 shows an outercone 7 used to collect x-ray beams on its inner surface. FIG. 8 shows abeam processor that is made of a multi-layer planar waveguide 5 wrappedinto a diverging cone with slightly convex sides. This waveguide 5 isconnected to a condensing cone 15 made of a multi-layer planar waveguide5 wrapped into a converging cone with straight sides. As shown in FIG.8, where the cones meet there is a lead shield in the center to preventunchanneled x-ray beams from entering the condensing cone. The cones arepreferably rigid and are preferably actuated as a unit for aiming. Inthis embodiment, lead leafs are used to form an aperture at the inlet ofthe collecting cone 14 which, as shown in FIG. 8, is preferably situatedadjacent to the beam generator 1. Because the collecting cone 14 isimmediately adjacent to the beam generator, all of the x-ray beams areinside the collecting cone 14 (hence, that is why this embodiment isreferred to as the “inner cone optics”). When used in this manner, thecollecting cone 14 will channel the more divergent beams.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, and described above, the divergingand converging cones can be linked by a ring of polycapillary tubes 10or multi-layer waveguides on actuated chips 13 for controlling flux.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the exiting beams could bemanipulated with a ring of single or multiple actuated mirrors 4 foraiming. In this embodiment, there may be two beams exiting each channelin different directions. This may require a lead shield to absorbunwanted x-ray beams at the center of the exit cone of the waveguide 5.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of an embodiment of the present inventionshowing the components in an alternative optic system that includesouter cone optics, where FIG. 10 further includes outer cone optics withpolycapillary tubes 10. The outer cone optics shown in FIGS. 9 and 10are similar to the aspects shown in FIG. 7 and described above exceptthat in FIG. 7, only the inner cone is used to collect x-ray beams. Incontrast, FIGS. 9 and 10 show the x-rays being collected on the outsideof the cone. It is made of a multi-layer planar waveguide 5 wrapped intoa diverging cone with slightly concave sides. This waveguide isconnected to a condensing cone 15 made of a multi-layer planar waveguide5 wrapped into a converging cone. Beams are aimed by a ring of actuatedexit mirrors 4 b at the exit of the cone.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and described above, the diverging andconverging cones can be linked by a ring of polycapillary tubes 10 ormulti-layer waveguides on actuated chips 13 for controlling flux.

Various sections of the different beam processors may be put together toform different beam processors for various applications. For example, aperson of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that thecollecting cone 14 could be used with the converging waveguide 5. Inaddition, polycapillary optics or multi-layer planar waveguides onactuated chips 13 could be used in the hinge area between the collectingcone 14 and the converging waveguide 5.

1. An x-ray beam processor system comprising: an x-ray beam generatorfor generating x-ray beams; multilayered planar waveguide optics wrappedinto a diverging cone on a substrate, wherein the diverging cone is aninner collecting cone and x-ray beams are collected on an outer surfaceof the diverging cone; an outer collecting cone, wherein the outercollecting cone collects x-ray beams on an inner surface of the outercollecting cone; a planar waveguide formed by the joining of the outercollecting cone and the inner collecting cone, wherein the planarwaveguide forms a converging cone that includes straight angles andx-rays increase in coherence and adherence within the converging cone;and a mirror ring for aiming x-rays exiting the planar waveguide.
 2. Thex-ray beam processor system according to claim 1, wherein the collectingcones and converging cone are continuous and are an integral unit. 3.The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 1, wherein thesubstrate is smooth stainless steel.
 4. The x-ray beam processor systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the substrate is coated with alternatinglayers of dense and light materials.
 5. The x-ray beam processor systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the collecting cones and converging coneare linked by a ring of polycapillary optics.
 6. The x-ray beamprocessor system according to claim 1, wherein cooling tubes aredisposed in a core to cool the surface.
 7. The x-ray beam processorsystem according to claim 1, wherein a lead shield is placed on theoutside of the cones to absorb x-rays.
 8. The x-ray beam processorsystem according to claim 1, wherein the diverging cone is slightlyconcave and the outer collecting cone is slightly convex with respect toincoming x-ray beams.
 9. The x-ray beam processor system according toclaim 1, wherein the mirror ring comprises at least one actuated mirror.10. The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 1, wherein theouter collecting cone is a multilayer planar waveguide wrapped into aslightly diverging cone.
 11. The x-ray beam processor system accordingto claim 5, wherein the polycapillary optics are mounted on actuatedchips such that photons are directed into the converging cone or keptout of the converging cone to control flux.
 12. An x-ray beam processorsystem comprising: an x-ray beam generator for generating x-ray beams;an outer collecting cone adjacent to the x-ray beam generator thatcollects x-ray beams on its inner surface through an inlet; a multilayerwaveguide wrapped into a diverging cone with slightly convex sides; acondensing cone made of a multilayer waveguide wrapped into a convergingcone with straight sides, wherein the diverging cone is connected to thecondensing cone at a meeting point; and a lead shield is disposed at themeeting point in between the diverging cone and condensing cone toprevent unchanneled x-ray beams from entering the condensing cone. 13.The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 12, wherein the conesare rigid and actuated as a unit for aiming.
 14. The x-ray beamprocessor system according to claim 12, wherein lead leafs are used toform an aperture at the inlet of the collecting cone.
 15. The x-ray beamprocessor system according to claim 12, wherein the inlet of thecollecting cone is situated immediately adjacent to the x-ray beamgenerator.
 16. The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 12,wherein the diverging and converging cones are linked by a ring ofpolycapillary tubes.
 17. The x-ray beam processor system according toclaim 12, wherein the diverging and converging cones are linked bymultilayer waveguides on actuated chips for controlling flux.
 18. Thex-ray beam processor system according to claim 12, wherein exiting x-raybeams are manipulated by a ring of single or multiple actuated mirrorsfor aiming.
 19. The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 12,wherein there are a plurality of x-ray beams exiting the system indifferent directions.
 20. The x-ray beam processor system according toclaim 19, wherein a lead shield is used to absorb unwanted x-ray beamsat an exit cone of a waveguide.
 21. An x-ray beam processor systemcomprising: an x-ray beam generator for generating x-ray beams; acollecting cone made of a multilayer planar waveguide wrapped into adiverging cone with slightly concave sides; a condensing cone made of amultilayer planar waveguide wrapped into a converging cone, wherein thecollecting cone is connected to the condensing cone and x-rays arecollected on the outside of the collecting cone; an exit located at anend of the condensing cone; and a ring of actuated mirrors disposed atthe exit of the condensing cone.
 22. The x-ray beam processor systemaccording to claim 21, wherein the diverging and converging cones arelinked by a ring of polycapillary tubes.
 23. The x-ray beam processorsystem according to claim 21, wherein the diverging and converging conesare linked by multilayer waveguides on actuated chips for controllingflux.
 24. An x-ray beam processor system comprising: an x-ray beamgenerator for generating x-ray beams; a collecting cone comprisingmultilayer waveguide optics; a condensing cone comprising multilayerwaveguide optics; and a plurality of polycapillary tubes with channels,wherein the polycapillary tubes link the collecting cone and thecondensing cone.
 25. The x-ray beam processor system according to claim24, wherein the channels of the polycapillary tubes are approximately 1micron in diameter.
 26. The x-ray beam processor system according toclaim 24, wherein the diameter of the polycapillary tubes isapproximately 7 microns.
 27. The x-ray beam processor system accordingto claim 24, wherein the polycapillary tubes are actuated to change thedirection of the x-ray beams.
 28. The x-ray beam processor systemaccording to claim 27, wherein the polycapillary tubes are actuatedseparately.
 29. The x-ray beam processor system according to claim 24,wherein the polycapillary tubes can be used to turn off certainwaveguides.